Cape Town - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has asked the Presidency, several government departments and the Industrial Development Corporation to provide copies of documents related to the R47bn plan to purchase eight Airbus A400M transport aircraft for the air force even though the deal has been cancelled by the government.

The request for the documents has been lodged in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act with the defence, transport, public enterprises, and trade and industry departments as well as the Treasury and the Government Communication and Information System.

DA defence spokesman David Maynier said new and murky facts *1 had emerged which required that the details of the controversial procurement be fully aired. The fact that the deal has been terminated does not mean that it should not be investigated. We need to get to the bottom of it, learn the lessons and move on,� he said.

SA needed to know, he said, how it was possible that no tender was issued for the procurement of the aircraft, why the order was placed even though the defence department had apparently rejected it, and whether commissions were paid.

Maynier said allegations had also been made that a group of politically well-connected investors, including Speaker of the National Assembly Max Sisulu, were involved in a dubious black economic empowerment deal relating to the aircraft.

Another allegation that needed to be probed was that controversial businessman Ivor Ichikowitz was involved with Aerosud, one of the risk-sharing partners in the development of the Airbus A400M.

The Airbus A400M programme ran into serious trouble including massive cost overruns for the procurement of the aircraft, from R17bn in 2005 to R47bn in 2009, and huge (development) costs with government transfers of R673m already paid to Denel Saab Aerostructures as part of a R1,6bn indemnity agreement for the development of the Airbus A400M, Maynier said.

We cannot afford to be dragged down by a new arms deal scandal.

Meanwhile, the Cape Town city council and the Western Cape provincial government both under DA control � have signed a co- operation agreement with the Open Democracy Advice Centre to promote public access to information and greater transparency.

The city will allow the advice centre access to the city's procedures and practices in terms of access to information, and help to identify effective procedures that could be replicated by other public bodies.

It will also assist the centre and the province in the implementation of suitable procedures in other municipalities.

With acknowledgements to Linda Ensor and Business Day.